Anti Poverty Week: 16-22 October

Anti-Poverty Week is a week where all Australians are encouraged to organise or take part in an activity aiming to highlight or overcome issues of poverty and hardship in Australia or overseas. It was established in Australia as an expansion of the UN’s annual International Anti-Poverty Day on October 17. The main aims are to: strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia; and, encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments. Everyone is encouraged to help reduce poverty and hardship by organising an activity during the Week or taking part in an activity organised by others.

Last year, at least 600 organisations around Australia participated in more than 400 activities during the Week, with a total participation of more than 10,000 people.

Why not organise a display, stall or award?

Maybe a workshop, lecture or forum?

How about a fundraiser, fact sheet or petition?

Here are 10 things you can do during Anti-Poverty Week:

1. Organise a forum for local groups to discuss poverty issues in your community and plan some action to address them

2. If you are in a community organisation, religious group or sporting association, ask them to think about doing something during the Week

3. Arrange an information stall at a local shopping centre or other gathering place about ways people can get help from local services

4. Organise a meal, concert, game or some other activity to help raise funds for organisations which help disadvantaged people

5. Arrange a speaker on poverty issues for your workplace or a group you are involved with

6. Volunteer to help an organisation working with disadvantaged people (for some ideas, see www.volunteeringaustralia.org)

7. Join in an Anti-Poverty Week activity which someone else is organising (see the calendar of activities at www.antipovertyweek.org.au)

8. Start making regular donations to charities and ask friends and workmates to do the same (or agree to exchange presents in future by making donations on behalf of each other)

9. Write a letter to your local paper or MP about some aspect of poverty or other hardship that concerns you

10. If you are in a business, provide a discount or free offer to people on a low income for some of your products or services during the Week